Science Potpourri celebrates 20 years of fun and science

The three are among a host of activities on the roster for the University of Alaska Fairbanks' 20th annual Science Potpourri Saturday, April 13 from noon to 3 p.m. The College of Natural Science and Mathematics hosts the free event, which will be in the Reichardt Building on the UAF campus.

“The enthusiasm at the event is catching. The professors and students are excited to be doing the event, and the parents and children are having a great time. You can’t help but be excited yourself,” said

Jacy Pietsch, event coordinator and lab manager for the CNSM chemistry department, which started the event as a way to spark children's curiosity in science.

The event will feature a “potpourri” of activities like digging for fossils, seeing real lava, creating an earthquake and looking at stars in a portable planetarium. The Reichardt Building will be full of experiments and hands-on activities. There will also be three shows:

12:30 p.m. — Having a blast with chemistry
1:30 p.m. — The physics of swimming through air
2:30 p.m. — A “lava” fun with volcanoes

Activities are designed for children of all ages, including toddlers. Adults should accompany all children. Parking is available behind the Reichardt building. For more information, visit www.uaf.edu/cnsm or call 907-474-7608.